面对因水文系统过度扩张而导致的区域环境退化，人们越来越担心水资源需求的增加，佛罗里达州西南部水资源管理区（区）启动了一项非常积极的计划，以评估并采取行动解决各种水资源管理问题。随着过程的发展，调查指出了许多必须解决的问题，以满足地区规则和佛罗里达州法规的要求，因为它们特别涉及不利的环境影响。坦帕湾地区未来的用水需求将随着时间的推移而稳步增加，必须找到环境兼容的解决方案，以满足可持续增长的需求。加快替代供水的发展对于解决坦帕湾的供水问题至关重要。该地区的立场是，在充分考虑所有问题的情况下，海水淡化具有满足坦帕湾当前和未来需求的巨大潜力。 本文概述了坦帕市的规划和努力，旨在将海水淡化作为维持人口持续增长的供水替代方案。

In response to a mounting concern for increased water demands in the face of regional environmental degradation form overdrafting the hydrologic system, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) initiated a very aggressive program to evaluate and take action to address the various water management concerns. As the process evolved, the investigations pointed toward many problems that would have to be resolved to meet District rules and Florida Statutes as they pertain specifically to adverse environmental impacts. The future needs for water in the Tampa Bay area will steadily increase with time and environmentally compatible solutions must be found to meet the needs for sustainable growth. The expedited development of alternative water supplies is critical to solving the water supply issues in Tampa Bay. It is the District's position that seawater desalination holds great potential to meet the current and future needs for Tampa Bay when all issues are given full consideration. This paper presents an overview of the City of Tampa's planning and efforts to move toward using desalination as a water supply alternative to sustain continued population growth.